Notes Payable And Long-Term Debt (Notes Payable, Long-Term Debt And Long-Term Lease Obligations Outstanding) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Aug. 31, 2011		Aug. 31, 2010
Borrowings under credit facilities	$ 72,100	[1]	$ 73,750	[1]
Borrowings under loans	2,060	[2]	342,380	[2]
Securitization program obligations		[3]	71,436	[3]
Miscellaneous borrowings	2		8
Fair value adjustment	11,570	[4]		[4]
Total notes payable and long-term debt	1,186,754		1,186,496
Less current installments of notes payable and long-term debt	74,160		167,566
Notes payable and long-term debt, less current installments	1,112,594		1,018,930
5.625% Senior Notes Due In 2020 [Member]
Senior Notes	400,000	[5]
7.750% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Senior Notes	303,501	[6]	301,782	[6]
8.250% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]
Senior Notes	$ 397,521	[7]	$ 397,140	[7]

[1] As of August 31, 2011, three of the Company's foreign subsidiaries have entered into credit facilities to finance their future growth and any corresponding working capital needs. The credit facilities are denominated in U.S. dollars. The credit facilities incur interest at fixed and variable rates ranging from 2.3% to 3.6%.

[2] During the second quarter of fiscal year 2011, the Company amended and restated the five-year Old Credit Facility (the "Amended and Restated Credit Facility"). The Amended and Restated Credit Facility provides for a revolving credit in the amount of $1.0 billion, subject to potential uncommitted increases up to $1.3 billion, and expires on December 7, 2015. Some or all of the lenders under the Amended and Restated Credit Facility and their affiliates have various other relationships with the Company and its subsidiaries involving the provision of financial services, including cash management, loans, letter of credit and bank guarantee facilities, investment banking and trust services. The Company, along with some of its subsidiaries, has entered into foreign exchange contracts and other derivative arrangements with certain of the lenders and their affiliates. In addition, many if not most of the agents and lenders under the Amended and Restated Credit Facility held positions as agent and/or lender under the Company's Old Credit Facility. Interest and fees on the Amended and Restated Credit Facility advances are based on the Company's non-credit enhanced long-term senior unsecured debt rating as determined by S&P and Moody's. Interest is charged at a rate equal to either 0.40% to 1.50% above the base rate or 1.40% to 2.50% above the Eurocurrency rate, where the base rate represents the greatest of Citibank, N.A.'s prime rate, 0.50% above the federal funds rate or 1.0% above one-month LIBOR, and the Eurocurrency rate represents adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate for the applicable interest period, each as more fully described in this credit agreement. Fees include a facility fee based on the revolving credit commitments of the lenders and a letter of credit fee based on the amount of outstanding letters of credit. The Company, along with its subsidiaries, are subject to the following financial covenants: (1) a maximum ratio of (a) Debt (as defined in the credit agreement) to (b) Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the credit agreement) and (2) a minimum ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA to (b) interest payable on, and amortization of debt discount in respect of, all Debt (as defined in the credit agreement) and loss on sale of trade accounts receivables pursuant to any of the Company's, or its subsidiaries, securitization programs. In addition, the Company is subject to other covenants, such as: limitation upon liens; limitation upon mergers, etc.; limitation upon accounting changes; limitation upon subsidiary debt; limitation upon sales, etc. of assets; limitation upon changes in nature of business; payment restrictions affecting subsidiaries; compliance with laws, etc.; payment of taxes, etc.; maintenance of insurance; preservation of corporate existence, etc.; visitation rights; keeping of books; maintenance of properties, etc.; transactions with affiliates; and reporting requirements. During fiscal year 2011, the Company borrowed and repaid $6.7 billion against the Old Credit Facility and the Amended and Restated Credit Facility under multiple draws. In addition, during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011, the Company borrowed and repaid $1.7 billion against the Amended and Restated Credit Facility under multiple draws. These borrowings were repaid in full during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011. A draw in the amount of $400.0 million was made under the term portion of the Old Credit Facility during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007, and the outstanding balance was repaid in full during the first quarter of fiscal year 2011. In addition to the loans described above, at August 31, 2011, the Company has loans outstanding to fund working capital needs. These additional loans total approximately $2.1 million and are denominated in Euros. The loans are due and payable within 12 months and are classified as short-term on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

[3] In the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, the Company amended the foreign asset-backed securitization program. Prior to execution of the amendment, the Company recognized interest expense of approximately $0.9 million during fiscal year 2011 associated with the secured borrowings. As a result of the amendment, the accounts receivable transferred under this program qualify for sale treatment and as such are no longer accounted for as secured borrowing. The program was accounted for as a secured borrowing in fiscal year 2010. At August 31, 2010, the Company had $71.4 million of debt outstanding under the program. In addition, the Company incurred interest expense of $2.1 million and $3.9 million recorded within the Consolidated Statements of Operations during fiscal years 2010 and 2009, respectively.

[4] This amount represents the fair value hedge accounting adjustment related to the 7.750% Senior Notes. For further discussion of the Company's fair value hedges, see Note 12 - "Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities" to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

[5] During the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, the Company issued $400.0 million of ten-year publicly registered 5.625% notes (the "5.625% Senior Notes") at par. The net proceeds from the offering of $400.0 million were used to fully repay the term portion of the credit facility dated as of July 19, 2007 (the "Old Credit Facility") and partially repay amounts outstanding under the Company's foreign asset-backed securitization program. The 5.625% Senior Notes mature on December 15, 2020 and pay interest semiannually on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2011. The 5.625% Senior Notes are the Company's senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with all other existing and future senior unsecured debt obligations. The Company is subject to covenants such as limitations on its and/or its subsidiaries' ability to: consolidate or merge with, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the Company's assets to, another person; create certain liens; enter into sale and leaseback transactions; create, incur, issue, assume or guarantee any funded debt (which only applies to the Company's "restricted subsidiaries"); and guarantee any of the Company's indebtedness (which only applies to the Company's subsidiaries). The Company is also subject to a covenant requiring its repurchase of the 5.625% Senior Notes upon a "change of control repurchase event."

[6] During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company issued $312.0 million of seven-year, publicly-registered 7.750% notes (the "7.750% Senior Notes") at 96.1% of par, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $300.0 million. The 7.750% Senior Notes mature on July 15, 2016 and pay interest semiannually on January 15 and July 15. The 7.750% Senior Notes are the Company's senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with all other existing and future senior unsecured debt obligations. The Company is subject to covenants such as limitations on its and/or its subsidiaries' ability to: consolidate or merge with, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the Company's assets to, another person; create certain liens; enter into sale and leaseback transactions; create, incur, issue, assume or guarantee funded debt (which only applies to the Company's "restricted subsidiaries"); and guarantee any of the Company's indebtedness (which only applies to the Company's subsidiaries). The Company is also subject to a covenant requiring its repurchase of the 7.750% Senior Notes upon a "change of control repurchase event."

[7] During the second and third quarters of fiscal year 2008, the Company issued $250.0 million and $150.0 million, respectively, of ten-year, unregistered 8.250% notes at 99.965% of par and 97.5% of par, respectively, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $245.7 million and $148.5 million, respectively. On July 18, 2008, the Company completed an exchange whereby all of the outstanding unregistered 8.250% Notes were exchanged for registered 8.250% Notes (collectively the "8.250% Senior Notes") that are substantially identical to the unregistered notes except that the 8.250% Senior Notes are registered under the Securities Act and do not have any transfer restrictions, registration rights or rights to additional special interest. The 8.250% Senior Notes mature on March 15, 2018 and pay interest semiannually on March 15 and September 15. The interest rate payable on the 8.250% Senior Notes is subject to adjustment from time to time if the credit ratings assigned to the 8.250% Senior Notes increase or decrease, as provided in the 8.250% Senior Notes. The 8.250% Senior Notes are the Company's senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with all other existing and future senior unsecured debt obligations. The Company is subject to covenants such as limitations on its and/or its subsidiaries' ability to: consolidate or merge with, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the Company's assets to, another person; create certain liens; enter into sale and leaseback transactions; create, incur, issue, assume or guarantee any funded debt (which only applies to the Company's "restricted subsidiaries"); and guarantee any of the Company's indebtedness (which only applies to the Company's subsidiaries). The Company is also subject to a covenant requiring its repurchase of the 8.250% Senior Notes upon a "change of control repurchase event."